Hotel parking fees drive away visitors

I read Friday's article about the hotel vacancy rates. I'm always looking for a bargain. My wife and I visit your beautiful Hawaiian islands frequently; quite frequently, however, there are other expenses associated with the hotels I'd like to mention.

We've seen the parking rates increase to over double at most hotels. We've always had a rental car but because of the prices we turned it in after three days and started riding TheBus or walking. The Bus is OK if you know which one to take, but when I asked one driver directions he rudely queried, "Why me?" then shut the door and rolled away.

Perhaps if the hotels could combine perks like parking they'd do better. Just a thought.

R. Hoeppner
Frequent visitor
Paradise, Calif.

Governor should veto bad trade bill

House Bill 30 would prohibit the governor from bringing Hawaii's practices into line with trade agreements signed by the United States and passed by Congress.

Though a small businessman now, I was a trade negotiator for seven administrations, Republican and Democrat. In HB 30, our Legislature is saying that states' rights take precedence over national interest. This weakens the hands of our negotiators. Why should other countries make commitments if they don't know that we can implement our side of the bargain? They shouldn't and don't. If we fail to implement our commitments, other countries can sue us in the World Trade Organization, which can lead to retaliation. This is rare, but has happened when states pursue their own trade policies.

The implications for Hawaii are real. HB 30 potentially makes it tougher for U.S. negotiators to lower other countries' barriers. It invites retaliation if our Legislature fails to bring Hawaii's practices into line with national policy. This means higher barriers faced by Hawaii's exporters. HB 30 creates uncertainty -- and uncertainty kills business and jobs.

Stephen K. Craven
Kekepana International Services
Honolulu

Community Safety Act deserves to stand

My ohana was saddened to hear that Gov. Linda Lingle plans to veto Senate Bill 932. The Community Safety Act includes an appropriation for Maui's BEST (Being Empowered and Safe Together) reintegration program operated by Maui Economic Opportunity.

The BEST program has helped to reintegrate former inmates back into our community by helping them to find jobs, housing, drug treatment and other essential services. It also has helped to reunite families and strengthen family relationships through cultural activities. What is even more amazing is that the BEST program has a 15 percent recidivism rate!

I hope that the governor will recognize that prison building is not the best or most cost-effective way to fight crime and protect the safety of our community. A far more effective way to stop the revolving door to prison is through re-entry programs like BEST. Please give individuals the support they need to become productive members of their ohana and our community by signing SB 932 into law.

Leina Purdy
Kula, Maui

Suicide bombers are mindless zombies

Stop calling them "suicide bombers" or even "homicidal bombers." If you are going to speak of the infidels, call them for what they are. They are "zombies." They are the walking dead, masquerading as religious zealots.

Zombies are the tools of a demonic mindset controlled or brainwashed by satanic fanatics, who are themselves mindless, soulless and godless. There is no redemption for these mentally and spiritually disordered aberrations.

Zombie attacks are what they are, and they are evil, and they are insidious acts of moral obscenity. Even as malicious and vicious the terms "suicide" and "homicide" are, they are stated in human reference: Zombies are a species of inhuman filth.

Maybe we should find an appropriate community and name streets after zombies and/or display large pictures of zombies to remind us all that hell is real and Lucifer lives among us.

Jim Feger
Chalan Kanoa, Saipan

Workers comp bills should not be vetoed

Having just seen Michael Moore's latest expose on the "profits before people" status of America's health care system, I must point out that the deficiencies showcased in his film are alive, well and even amplified in our very own workers compensation system. Though established to provide care for those injured at work, those who do not recover quickly are subject to a nonstop array of forced examinations by insurer-supported doctors, unwanted scrutiny and shadowing by insurance agents, and care denials with a complete disregard of the patient's wishes and his/her physician's recommendations.

Gov. Linda Lingle is intent on vetoing two bills (Senate Bill 1060 and House Bill 855) designed to ensure health care for injured workers until a hearing at the Department of Labor rules otherwise. The legislation promises a return on investment of more than 20 percent per case through expedient, uninterrupted recovery and return to work versus the need to find a lawyer and go without care as one waits two to four months for a hearing, then two more months for its decision.

Vetoing these bills would do little to make good on Lingle's stated priority to safeguard Hawaii's most valuable resource -- its people.

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